Cotton variety FM 991B2R

ABSTRACT

A novel cotton variety, designated as FM 991B2R, is disclosed. The invention relates to seeds, plants, plant cells, plant tissue, harvested products and cotton lint as well as to hybrid cotton plants and seeds obtained by crossing plants of variety FM 991B2R with other plants. The invention also relates to plants and varieties produced by the method of essential derivation from plants of FM 99IB2R and to plants of FM 991B2R reproduced by vegetative methods, including but not limited to tissue culture of regenerable cells or tissue from FM 991B2R.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.06/649,658, filed Feb. 3, 2005, the disclosure of which is hereinincorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to the field of plant breeding. Moreparticularly, the invention encompasses a variety of cotton designatedas FM 991B2R, its essentially derived varieties and the hybrid varietiesobtained by crossing FM 991B2R as a parent line with plants of othervarieties or parent lines.

2. Description of the Related Art

Cotton is an important, fiber producing crop. In particular, due to theimportance of cotton to the textile industry, cotton breeders areincreasingly seeking to obtain healthy, good yielding crops of anexcellent quality. Cotton is commonly reproduced by self-pollination andfertilization. This type of sexual reproduction facilitates thepreservation of plant and variety characteristics during breeding andseed production. The preservation of these characteristics are oftenimportant to plant breeders for producing cotton plants having desiredtraits. Other methods of producing cotton plants having desired traitsare also used and include methods such as genetic transformation viaAgrobacterium infection or direct transfer by microparticle bombardment.

Due to the environment, the complexity of the structure of genes andlocation of a gene in the genome, among other factors, it is difficultto predict the phenotypic expression of a particular genotype. Inaddition, a plant breeder may only apply his skills on the phenotype andnot, or in a very limited way, on the level of the genotype. Because ofthis phenomenon, a plant breeder cannot breed the same variety twiceusing the same parents and the same methodology, thus a newly bredvariety is considered to be an unexpected result of the breedingprocess. In particular, each variety will typically contain a uniquecombination of known or novel characteristics.

However, by carefully choosing the breeding parents, the breeding andselection methods, the testing layout and testing locations, the breedermay breed a particular variety type. In addition, the new variety may betested in special comparative trials with other existing varieties inorder to determine whether the new variety meets the requiredexpectations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to seeds, plants, plant cells, parts ofplants, cotton lint or fiber, and cotton textiles of the cotton varietydesignated as FM 991B2R, as well as to hybrid cotton plants and seedsobtained by (repeatedly) crossing plants of FM 991B2R with other cottonplants. The invention encompasses plants and plant varieties produced bythe method of essential derivation from plants of FM 991B2R and toplants of FM 991B2R reproduced by vegetative methods, including but notlimited to, regeneration of embryogenic cells or tissue of FM 991B2R.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As used herein, “cotton” refers to plants, seeds or plant cells of thegenus Gossypium, preferably the species Gossypium hirsutum.

As used herein, “lint” refers to the mass of soft fibers surrounding theseeds of unginned cotton.

As used herein, “phenotypic characteristics” refers to the observable,measurable or otherwise determinable physical or biochemicalcharacteristics of an organism, as determined by both genetic makeup andenvironmental influences (e.g., length, color, size, weight, biochemicalcomposition, protein concentration, etc.).

As used herein, “fiber” refers to the natural filament of cotton,capable of being spun into yarn, as is typically separated from unginnedcotton seed.

The invention has been obtained by a general breeding process comprisingthe steps outlined below. (For reference, see Chapter 11, “BreedingSelf-Pollinated Crops by Hybridization and Pedigree Selection,” in F. N.Briggs and P. F Knowles (1967)).

Parent plants, which have been selected for good agronomic and fiberquality traits are manually crossed in different combinations. Theresulting F1 (Filial generation 1) plants are self fertilized and theresulting F2 generation plants, which show a large variability onaccount of optimal gene segregation, are planted in a selection field.

These F2 plants are observed during the growing season for health,growth vigor, plant type, plant structure, leaf type, stand ability,flowering, maturity, seed yield, boll type, boll distribution, bollsize, fiber yield and fiber quality. Plants are then selected. Theselected plants are harvested, the bolls are analyzed for fibercharacteristics and the seeds are cleaned and stored. This procedure isrepeated in the following growing seasons, whereby the selection andtesting units increase from individual plants in the F2, to multipleplants containing ‘lines’ (descending from one mother plant) in the F5and the number of units decrease from approximately 2500 plants in theF2 to 20 lines in the F5 by selecting about 10-20% of the units in eachselection cycle.

The increased size of the units, whereby more seed per unit isavailable, allows the selection and testing in replicated trials on morethan one location with a different environment and a more extensive andaccurate analyzing of the fiber quality.

The lines or candidate varieties become genotypically more homozygousand phenotypically more homogeneous by selecting similar plant typeswithin a line and by discarding the so called off-types from the veryvariable F2 generation on to the final F7 or F8 generation.

Depending on the intermediate results the plant breeder may decide tovary the procedure as described above such as by accelerating theprocess by testing a particular line earlier or retesting a line anotheryear. He may also select plants for further crossing with existingparent plants or with other plants resulting from the current selectionprocedure.

By the method of recurrent backcrossing, as described by Briggs andKnowles, supra, in Chapter 13, “The Backcross Method of Breeding,” thebreeder may introduce a specific trait or traits into an existing,valuable line or variety, while otherwise preserving the uniquecombination of characteristics of this line or variety. In this crossingmethod, the valuable parent is recurrently used to cross it at least forthree times with each resulting backcross F1, followed by selection ofthe recurrent parent plant type, until the phenotype of the resulting F1is similar or almost identical to the phenotype of the recurrent parentwith the addition of the expression of the desired trait or traits.

This method of recurrent backcrossing eventually results in anessentially derived variety, which is predominantly derived from therecurrent parent or initial variety. This method can therefore also beused to get as close as possible to the genetic composition of anexisting successful variety. Thus, compared to the recurrent parent theessentially derived variety retains a distinctive trait, which can beany phenotypic trait, with the intention to profit from the qualities ofthat successful initial variety.

Depending on the number of backcrosses and the efficacy of the selectionof the recurrent parent plant type and genotype, which can be supportedby the use of molecular markers as described by P. Stam (2003), thegenetic conformity with the initial variety of the resulting essentiallyderived variety may vary between 90% and 100%.

Except via recurrent backcrossing, as described above, such essentiallyderived variety may also be obtained by the selection from an initialvariety of an induced or natural occurring mutant plant, an occurringvariant (off-type) plant, a somaclonal variant plant or by genetictransformation of regenerable plant tissue or embryogenic cell culturesof the said initial variety by methods well known to those skilled inthe art, such as, for example, by Agrobacterium-mediated transformationas described by Sakhanokho et al. (2004), Reynaerts et al. (2000),Umbeck et al. (1988) and others. Examples of transgenic Eventstransformed in this way are “LLCotton25,”USDA-APHIS petition 02-042-01p,“Cot 102,”USDA-APHIS petition 03-155-01p and “281-24-236,”USDA-APHISpetition 03-036-01p, combined with “3006-210-23,”USDA-APHIS petition03-036-02p. Information regarding these and other transgenic eventsreferred to herein may be found at the U.S. Department of Agriculture's(USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) website. An“Event” is defined as a (artificial) genetic locus that, as a result ofgenetic engineering, carries a foreign DNA comprising at least one copyof the gene(s) of interest.

The plants selected or transformed retain the unique combination ofcharacteristics of 991B2R, except for the different expression of one,two, three, four or five characteristics changed by the selection of themutant or variant plant or the one, two, three, four or five differentcharacteristics added, e.g., by genetic transformation.

The product of essential derivation is an essentially derived variety,which is, except for the one, two, three, four or five distinctivecharacteristics, which characteristics are different as the result ofthe act of derivation, characterized by the same combination ofexpression of the characteristics in its phenotype as in the phenotypeof the initial variety, which same combination of expression resultsfrom the genotype that is nearly identical or almost identical orsimilar to the genotype of the initial variety. Plants of theessentially derived variety can be used to repeat the process ofessential derivation. The result of this process is also a varietyessentially derived from said initial variety.

FM 991B2R has been obtained by introducing the Events“MON531”(USDA-APHIS petition 94-308-01p, the disclosure of which isherein incorporated by reference in its entirety) in combination with“MON15985”(USDA-APHIS petition 00-342-01p, the disclosure of which isherein incorporated by reference in its entirety) and“MON1445”(USDA-APHIS petition 95-045-01p, see also Publication No. US2004/0148666 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,740,488, the disclosure of each ofwhich is herein incorporated by reference in their entireties), via across between a donor plant containing these Events and the cottonvariety “FM 991”(Australian Plant Breeders Right Application 1996/088,filed Apr. 19, 1996, issued Feb. 28, 1997), followed by threebackcrosses of the F1 plants resulting from these crosses, that expressthe characteristics of FM 991 combined with the Events as describedabove, with plants of FM 991. The resulting variety FM 991B2R is similarto the existing variety FM 991, but differs by its resistance to theinsect pests Cotton Bollworm, Cotton Leafworm, Fall Armyworm, PinkBollworm and Tobacco Budworm, as a result of the surprising expressionof the Events MON531 and MON15985 in combination with the remainder ofthe characteristics of FM 991 and the resistance to the herbicideglyfosate as a result of the surprising expression of the Event MON1445in combination with the remainder of the characteristics of FM 991.

Provided herein as embodiments of the invention are seeds, plants, plantcells and parts of plants of the cotton variety FM 991B2R.Representative seeds of this variety will be deposited under rule 37 CFR1.809, prior to issuance of a patent. Representative seeds of FM 991B2Rwill be deposited under Accession No. ______ . Plants produced bygrowing such seeds are provided herein as embodiments of the invention.Also provided herein are pollen or ovules of these plants, as well as acell or tissue culture of regenerable cells from such plants. In anotherembodiment, the invention provides for a cotton plant regenerated fromsuch cell or tissue culture, wherein the regenerated plant has themorphological and physiological characteristics of cotton cultivarFM991B2R, as described in the FM991B2R variety characteristics in Table1, when grown in the same environmental conditions. In yet anotherembodiment, the invention provides methods of testing for a plant havingthe morphological and physiological characteristics of cotton cultivarFM991B2R. In one embodiment, the testing for a plant having themorphological and physiological characteristics of cotton cultivarFM991B2R is carried out in the same field, under the same conditions andin the presence of plants of FM991B2R, e.g., plants grown from the seeddeposited under Accession number ______. In another embodiment, thecharacteristics to be tested for are those listed in Table 1.

Another embodiment of the invention provides for a method of introducinga desired trait into cotton cultivar FM991B2R comprising: (a) crossingthe FM991B2R plants, grown from seed deposited under Accession No.______, with plants of another cotton line that comprise a desired traitto produce F1 progeny plants, wherein the desired trait is selected fromthe group consisting of male sterility, herbicide resistance, insectresistance and resistance to bacterial, fungal or viral disease; (b)selecting F1 progeny plants that have the desired trait to produceselected F1 progeny plants; (c) crossing the selected F1 progeny plantswith the FM991B2R plants to produce first backcross progeny plants; (d)selecting for first backcross progeny plants that have the desired traitand the physiological and morphological characteristics of cottoncultivar FM991B2R as described in the FM991B2R variety characteristicsin Table 1, when grown in the same environmental conditions, to produceselected first backcross progeny plants; and (e) repeating steps (c) and(d) two or more times in succession to produce selected third or higherbackcross progeny plants that comprise the desired trait and all of thephysiological and morphological characteristics of cotton cultivarFM991B2R as described in the FM991B2R variety characteristics in Table1, when grown in the same environmental conditions. Also included hereinis a plant produced by this method, wherein such plant has the desiredtrait and all of the physiological and morphological characteristics,when grown in the same environmental conditions, of cotton cultivarFM991B2R, representative seed of which having been deposited at ______under Accession No. ______.

Also included herein is a method of producing cotton seed, comprisingthe steps of using the plant grown from seed of cotton variety FM991B2R, of which a representative seed sample will be deposited underAccession No. ______, as recurrent parent in crosses with other cottonplants different from FM 991B2R, and harvesting the resultant cottonseed.

Another embodiment of this invention relates to seeds, plants, plantcells and parts of plants of cotton varieties that are essentiallyderived from FM 991B2R, being essentially the same as this invention byexpressing the unique combination of characteristics of FM 991B2R,including the insect resistance and herbicide resistance of FM 991B2R,except for one, two, three, four or five characteristics being differentfrom the characteristics of FM 991B2R as a result of the act ofderivation.

Another embodiment of this invention is the reproduction of plants of FM991B2R by the method of tissue culture from any regenerable plant tissueobtained from plants of this invention. Plants reproduced by this methodexpress the specific combination of characteristics of this inventionand fall within its scope. During one of the steps of the reproductionprocess via tissue culture somaclonal, variant plants may occur, whichplants can be selected as being distinct from this invention, but stillfall within the scope of this invention as being essentially derivedfrom this invention.

Another embodiment of this invention is the production of a hybridvariety comprising (repeatedly) crossing plants of FM 991B2R with plantsof a different variety or varieties or with plants of a non-releasedline or lines. In practice, three different types of hybrid varietiesmay be produced (see e.g., Chapter 18, “Hybrid Varieties” in Briggs andKnowles, supra):

The “single cross hybrid” produced by two different lines, the “threeway hybrid,” produced by three different lines such that first thesingle hybrid is produced by using two out of the three lines followedby crossing this single hybrid with the third line and the “four wayhybrid” produced by four different lines such that first two singlehybrids are produced using the lines two by two, followed by crossingthe two single hybrids so produced.

Each single, three way or four way hybrid variety so produced and usingFM 991B2R as one of the parent lines contains an essential contributionof FM 991B2R to the resulting hybrid variety and falls within the scopeof this invention.

Cotton lint or fiber produced by the plants of this invention and byplants reproduced from this invention and by plants essentially derivedfrom this invention have the unique combination of the qualitycharacteristics of FM 991B2R and fall within the scope of thisinvention. The final textile produced form the unique fiber of FM 991B2Ralso falls within the scope of this invention.

It will be clear that the invention may be practiced otherwise than asparticularly described in the foregoing description and examples.Numerous modifications and variations of the present invention arepossible in light of the above teachings and, therefore, are within thescope of the appended claims.

The entire disclosure of each document cited (including patents, patentapplications, journal articles, abstracts, laboratory manuals, books orother disclosures) in the Background of the Invention, DetailedDescription and Examples is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

EXAMPLE 1

Seeds of the variety FM 991B2R (a representative sample of such seedswill be deposited under rule 37 CFR 1.809, prior to issuance of apatent, on ______ under Accession No. ______) were planted, togetherwith seeds of cotton variety DP555BGR as a reference variety, in fieldtrials at two locations, as mentioned hereunder.

The results as shown in Table 1 and 2 were obtained from a pooledanalysis of the data from these two trials:

1. BCSI Research Station, Leland Miss., 2004. Conditions: field grownirrigated trial with conventional management. Trial design: 5 entrytrial in a row and column design with six replicates and 14 m plots.Measurements on 10 plants from each plot.

2. Australian Cotton Research Institute, Narrabri, NSW, 2003/04 summer.Conditions: field grown irrigated trial with conventional management.Trial design: 24 entry trial in a row and column design with sixreplicates and two rows ×14 m plots. Measurements on 10 plants from eachplot.

Analysis of variance procedures were used to obtain least significantdifference statistics at the 1% level.

The description as mentioned in Table 1 and 2 reflect the averageexpression of the characteristics of FM 991B2R on these locations in2003/2004. This expression can be different on other locations and/or inother years. The sample that will be deposited represents the varietyand this sample can be analyzed for the expression of its phenotypiccharacteristics at any time and at any location. TABLE 1 DescriptiveCharacteristics of FM 991B2R Description of possible VarietyCharacteristic expression/note FM 991B2R DP555BG/RR General Plant TypePlant Habit spreading, inter- inter- inter- mediate, compact mediatemediate Foliage sparse, inter- inter- inter- mediate, dense mediatemediate Stem Lodging lodging, inter- erect erect mediate, erect FruitingBranch clustered, short, short normal normal Growth determinate,indeter- indeter- intermediate, minate minate indeterminate Leaf colorgreenish yellow, medium medium light green, green green medium green,dark green Boll Shape Length < Width, L > W L > W L = W, L > W BollBreadth broadest at base, broadest broadest broadest at middle middlemiddle Maturity date of 5O% open October 2 October 4 bolls Plant cm. tofirst from cotyledonary 17.3 23.3 Fruiting Branch node No. of nodes toexcluding 6.5 7.3 1st Fruiting cotyledonary node Branch Mature Plantcotyledonary 120.0 132.8 Height in cm. node to terminal Leaf: uppermost, fully expanded Type normal, sub-okra, normal normal okra,super-okra Pubescence absent, sparse, sparse sparse medium, denseNectaries present, absent present present Stem Pubescence glabrous,inter- inter- inter- mediate, hairy mediate mediate Glands absent,sparse, (Gossypol) normal, more than normal Leaf normal normal Stemnormal normal Calyx lobe (normal is absent) normal normal Flower Petalscream, yellow cream cream Pollen cream, yellow cream cream Petal Spotpresent, absent absent absent Peduncle Length 23.7 20.2 (mm) StigmaDistance 5.7 3.4 above Stamens (mm) Seed Seed Index g/100 seed 10.1 8.9fuzzy basis Lint Index g lint/1OO seeds 6.8 6.9 Boll Gin picked,stripped picked Lint % 36.1 43.1 Number of Seeds 28.2 28.1 per BollGrams Seed 4.8 4.6 Cotton per Boll Number of Locules 4.0 4.2 per BollBoll Type storm proof, storm open open resistant, open Fiber PropertiesMethod HVI or Other HVI Length inches, 2.5% SL 1.17 1.15 Uniformity %84.7 83.0 Strength, T1 g/tex 29.2 26.5 Elongation, E1 % 6.6 7.0Micronaire 4.3 4.4 Diseases, Insects susceptible = S, and Pestsmoderately susceptible = MS moderately resistant = MR, resistant = RBacterial R Blight race 1 Bacterial R Blight race 2 Bacterial R BlightRace 18 Verticillium Wilt MR Bollworm R Cotton Leafworm R Fall ArmywormR Pink Bollworm R Tobacco Budworm R

TABLE 2 Distinguishing Characteristics Variety Characteristic FM 991B2RDP 555BG/RR Bollgard II gene (Cry2Ab) Present Absent Height to firstFruiting Branch (cm) Mean 17.3 23.3 Range 15.3-18.7 20.6-26.0 LSD (1%)2.47 Significance P < 0.01 No. of Nodes to 1st Fruiting Branche 6.5 7.3Mean 6.1-6.7 6.9-7.9 Range 0.39 LSD (1%) P < 0.01 Significance PlantHeight (cm) Mean 120.0 132.8 Range 106.8-130.3 119-141 LSD (1%) 7.62Significance P < 0.01 Peduncle Length (mm) Mean 23.7 20.2 Range21.0-25.2 16.8-25.0 LSD (1%) 2.57 Significance P < 0.01 Stigma Distanceabove Stamens (mm) Mean 4.5 3.4 Range 3.9-5.0 2.0-4.8 LSD (1%) 0.82Significance P < 0.01 Lint Percentage Mean 36.1 43.1 Range 33.8.37.141.7-44.7 LSD (1%) 1.34 Significance P < 0.01

EXAMPLE 2

A variety essentially derived from FM 991B2R is obtained by the processof the transgression of the Event LLCotton 25 (USDA-APHIS petition02-042-01p, see also U.S. Pat. No. 6,818,807, the disclosure of each ofwhich is herein incorporated by reference in their entireties), intoplants of the variety FM 991B2R via the method of recurrent backcrossingand selecting the plants which express the characteristics of FM 991B2Rcombined with the resistance to the herbicide glufosinate.

EXAMPLE 3

A variety essentially derived from FM 991B2R is obtained by the processof the transgression of the Event LLCotton 25 via genetic engineering inregenerable cells or tissue of FM 991B2R and the subsequent selection ofregenerated plants, which express the characteristics of FM 991B2Rcombined with the resistance to the herbicide glufosinate.

EXAMPLE 4

A variety essentially derived from FM 991B2R is obtained by theselection of an induced or natural occurring mutant plant or off-typeplant from plants of FM 991B2R, which plant retains the expression ofthe phenotypic characteristics of FM 991B2R and differs only from FM991B2R in the expression of one, two, three, four or five of thecharacteristics as listed in table 1, and when grown side by side withFM 991B2R on one or two locations in one or two growing seasons.

Cited References

F. N. Briggs and P. F. Knowles, “Introduction to Plant Breeding.”Rheinhold Publishing Corporation, 1967.

H. F. Sakhanoko et al., “Induction of Somatic Embryogenesis and PlantRegeneration in Select Georgia and Pee Dee Cotton Lines.” Crop Science44:2199-2205 (2004).

Umbeck et al., “Genetic Engineering of Cotton Plants and Lines.”Published patent Application Number EP0290355 (1988).

Reynaerts et al., “Improved Method for Agrobacterium MediatedTransformation of Cotton.” International Publication Number WO 00/71733(2000).

P. Stam, “Marker-assisted introgression: speed at any cost?” Proceedingsof the Eucarpia Meeting on Leafy Vegetable Genetics and Breeding,Noordwijkerhout, The Netherlands, 19-21 March 2003. Eds. Th. J. L. vanHintum, A. Lebeda, D. Pink, J. W. Schut. P117-124 (2003).

Trolinder et al. “Herbicide tolerant cotton plants having event EE-GH1.”U.S. Pat. No. 6,818,807 (2004).

Rangwala et al. “Cotton Event PV-GHGT07(1445) Compositions and Methodsfor Detection thereof.” U.S. Pat. No. 6,740,488 (2004).

Rangwala et al. “Cotton Event PV-GHGT07(1445) Compositions and Methodsfor Detection thereof.” Publication No. US 2004/0148666.

1. Seed of cotton variety FM 991B2R of which a representative seedsample will be deposited under ______ Accession No. ______.
 2. Plants,or parts thereof, produced by growing the seed of claim
 1. 3. Seedsproduced by the plants of claim 2, which seed can grow into plantsexpressing the phenotypic characteristics of cotton variety FM 991B2R.4. Plants, or parts thereof, obtained by vegetative reproduction fromplants, or parts thereof, of claim 2, said plants, or parts thereof,expressing the phenotypic characteristics of cotton variety FM 991B2R.5. The process of vegetative reproduction of cotton variety FM 991B2Rcomprising, culturing regenerable cells or tissue from FM 991B2R. 6.Cotton lint or fiber obtained from the plants of claim
 2. 7. A textileproduct obtained from the cotton fiber of claim
 6. 8. A cell or tissueculture produced from plants, or parts thereof, of claim
 2. 9. A cottonplant regenerated from the cell or tissue culture of claim 8, said plantexpressing the phenotypic characteristics of FM 991B2R.
 10. A method ofproducing a F1 hybrid cotton seed, comprising the steps of crossingplants of claim 2 with cotton plants different from FM 991B2R andharvesting the resultant F1 hybrid cotton seed.
 11. F1 hybrid cottonseed produced by the method of claim
 10. 12. F1 Hybrid cotton plants, orparts thereof, produced by growing the hybrid seed of claim
 11. 13.Plants obtained by the vegetative reproduction of the cotton plants ofclaim
 12. 14. Seed produced by the F1 hybrid cotton plants of claim 12.15. A method of producing F1 cotton seed comprising the steps ofcrossing plants of claim 12 with cotton plants different from thoseplants of claim 12 and harvesting the resultant F1 hybrid cotton seed.16. F1 Hybrid cotton plants, or parts thereof, produced by growing thehybrid seed of claim
 15. 17. Plants obtained by the vegetativereproduction of the cotton plants of claim
 16. 18. A method of producingessentially derived cotton plants, comprising, genetically transforminga desired trait in regenerable plant cell or plant tissue of claim 8,resulting in an essentially derived cotton plant that retains theexpression of the phenotypic characteristics of cotton variety FM991B2R, except for the characteristics changed by the introduction ofthe desired trait.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein said desiredtrait is fiber quality, herbicide resistance, insect resistance,bacterial disease resistance or fungal disease resistance.
 20. Themethod of claim 18, wherein the desired herbicide resistance is anexpression of the Event “LLCotton25” or the Event “MON88913” and thedesired insect resistance is an expression of the Event “281-24-236”,Event “3006-210-23” or a combination thereof or of the Event “Cot 102”.21. A method of producing essentially derived cotton plants, comprisingthe steps of selecting a mutant or variant plant from plants of claim 2;producing a cell or tissue culture from the plant selected; andgenetically transforming a desired trait into regenerable plant cell orplant tissue, resulting in an essentially derived cotton plant thatretains the phenotypic characteristics of cotton variety FM 991B2R,except for the characteristics changed by the selection of the mutant orvariant plant and the characteristics changed by the introduction of thedesired trait.
 22. Plants, parts thereof or seeds produced by saidplants, obtained by the method of claims 18, which retains thephenotypic characteristics of cotton variety FM 991B2R and includes aherbicide resistance characteristic of the expression of the Event“MON1445” and an insect resistance characteristic of the combinationexpression of Events “MON531” and “MON15985”, except for thecharacteristics changed by the introduction of the desired trait. 23.Cotton lint or fiber obtained from the plants of claim
 22. 24. Plantsproduced by the method of claim
 21. 25. Seed produced by the plants ofclaim
 24. 26. Plants, or parts thereof, grown from the seeds of claim25.
 27. Cotton lint and fiber obtained from the plants of claim
 26. 28.A textile product obtained from the cotton fiber of claim 27.